Expansion joint



March 31, 1936. J. l.. HERwooD ExPANsIoNJoINT Filed Deo. l5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY March 31, 1936. J. HERWQOD 2,035,476

EXPANS ION JOIZNT Filed Dec. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2, .'.INVENTOR JO/m L H5 00d. BY

ATTORNEY Padded Mlm-31, y

PATENT OFFICE.

EXPAN SION- OINT John L. Herwood, Pittsburgh. Pa.. assigner to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa.,- a corporation of Pennsylvania.

application member 13, 1934, serai No. 'man- UNITED STATES Claims.

lo pansio'n or movement of various sections or portions within the 'structure in a definite manner by the proper placement of yieldable portions or suitable clearances, referred to collectively as expansin jointsso as toiavoid cracking or strainl ing the entire structure by the independent movementor expansion of one or more individual sections. There is also a growing tendency to employ metal in exterior surfaces of concrete structures to a larger extent in the form of large metal framed windows or large metal spandrels. This change in construction has increased the diiilculty of seeming a` satisfactory and lasting joint between sections which is capable not only of absorbing the maximum expansive movement in the building due to temperature changes, wind move ment or earth tremors, but'also the differential expansion between sections of different materials.

An object of my invention is to provide an so improved expansion joint which will allow for the free movement of individual sections in thestructure. Another object is to provide yan expension joint for concrete structures which will maintain a weather-proof and water-proof seal 3 5 and allow a substantial movement of the sections joined. A further object is to provide an improved expansion joint for concrete and metal sections. These and other objects willbe apparent from the detailed description and the drawings which form a part of this specication.

The erpansion joint contemplated by this invention provides a means of ioining sections in 1 a structure in a manner which maintains a weather-proof, water-tight seal and `at the same '45 time provides for free movement in a predetermined direction of the individual sections joined. The joint or seal is perfected through the novel application of weather-proof sealing compounds, for example asphaltic base compounds. The seal is accomplished by holding alayer of sealing compound, such as a plastic layer of suitable material, firmly on one side of a serrated surface and contacting the other side of the plastic layer with a plane surface which, if the elastic limit of the sealing material is exceeded by an opposite (CL 18S-75) movement of the two surfaces. can move in contact with the sealing material without affecting the seal or transporting the sealing material. It has been found that one practical embodiment of this invention consists in providing a recess l with serrated interior wall surfaces in the form of a channel or socket in the abutting surface of one section to be joined, and a plane-surfaced tongue-like male member on the oppositely dis` i posed abutting surfacerprojecting into the ser- 10 ratedsocket or channel and separated from it by a layerof plastic sealing material. The em-v bodiment of this invention can assume many forms and modiiications.` For the purposes of explanation, two embodiments of this invention la will be described, one for joining metal and concrete sections and the other-for joining two concrete sections. These are illustrated in the draw` ings, in which:

' Fig. 1 -is a horizontal sectional view showing 9,04

'a metal window frame yieldably supported in a' concrete wall;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on theline II--II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional z5 I vviv showing aA portion of Fig. l to an enlarged s e;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing a modified iorm of my improved expansion joint Pig. 5 is a perspective view of a metal sealing strip employed in the modification shown in Fig. 4. Like numerals are used throughout the various connecting two concrete sections; and s0 drawings to denote likeV parts.

Referring to Figs. l, I2 and 3, a concrete section 35 6 is provided with a channel member 1 set in its body with the opening flush with the surface of the section. The interior side surfaces of the channel are serrated parallel to its length. The channel is bridged at intervals according to the 40 size and weight of the window or other assembly to be supported by bars l set in the concrete. The frame is supported by the bars by means of the subframe plate member 9 which projects into the channel.v The member 9 is provided with 45 L-'shaped slots il which' engage the bars I as shown in` Fig. 2. These L-shaped slots il provide a means of positively supporting the frame from the bars and permit a horizontal and vertical expansive movement by reason of the L por- 50 tion of each slot being substantially wider than the supporting'bar. 'lhe space or clearance between members 1 and' l is filled with a viscous sealing compound il. The serrations i2 substantially prevent the extrusion of the sealing 55 l l .y t

, in any convenient manner. The projecting plate material from the joint even after long continued some extent the first section. -The male mem# working due to the relative movement of the serrated and plane-surfaced members 1 and I, respectively.

Thef'erection and assembly 'of this expansion joint is relatively simple and easily canied out. It is customary to fasten member 'l to the concrete form in accurate position, as by nailing, before the concrete is poured. The nails may be cut off for. removal of the form, the remaining nail heads, for example, being shown at I3 in Fig. 3. The desired number of supporting bars 2 are also positioned by insertion through apertures I4 in the channel member 1. After the concrete has been poured and set and the forms have been stripped the channel is filled or partially lled with a plastic .sealing compound. This material, in practice, is usually applied by means of a pneumatic gun, referred to in the art as a "putty gun. However, it may be applied member i of the metal frame assembly is inserted in the channel and the L-shaped slots Il drop over the bars 8.` A clearance space surrounding the member 9 in the channel 1 is completely lled with plastic sealing compound Il previously applied to the channel. The L portions of the slots in which the bars rest are enlarged to substantially greater dimensions than the bars, as-illustrated in Fig. 2. 'The window frame assembly may now be completed. In this type of construction it is possible to use any type of window sash constructionand sash-operating mechanism desired provided means are adopted for securing such sash and mechanism to the subframe member. If desired, the L-shaped slotsl and corresponding supporting bars may be omitted 4fromthe horizontal portion of the seal, that-is,

top and bottom, owing .to the fact that the weight 1s carried by une vertical side ber members.

A modification of this invention is shown in Y Fig. 4 and is designed to meet the particular needs 4 of joining two concrete sections.; The sealing members are substantially identical with the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, but in addition modincations have been made lwhich are desirable in connecting concrete sections. 'I'he anchorage of the channel member 1in the concrete section is preferably strengthened by providing a broad flange Il at the inner end of the channel member. FlangesJl extend outwardly from the channel of member 1 along the surface of the concrete section. These flanges li have recessed portions .II'which are provided with serrations I8 running parallel with the Joint, asshownin Fig. 4.

Themale member l1, where concrete sectionsare to be joined, is preferably made integral with a shape otherwisesimilar to the female, member 1,

-andsimilarreferencenumeralshavebeenused to denote like parts thereof. The member l* is hereinafter referred to as a male member.

'I'he members are positioned accurately and fastened toY the fonn before the concrete is poured. In casethe concrete sections are poured .inplace.thefemalemembermaybesecuredin accurate position to the inner side of the form for one abutting surface and the concrete subsequently 'poured and allowed to set. The form may then be stripped oi! or at leastremcved from the` abutting surface and the channel of the female member illled with plastic vsealing compound. Themalememberisplaeedinposition, the projecting portion l1 being forced into 'the plastic fllied channel. A form for the second concrete sections is' then erectedA overlapping to then poured. When the concrete is set and the form removed. the spacer is easily removed. While this procedure is a preferred method of erection, it will be understood that any suitable method may be used.

'Ihe metallic sealing strip 2l for sealing the4 clearance space between the abutting sections is shown in perspectivein Fig. 5 in a mannerwhich clearly shows its construction. This strip is formed of resilient sheet metal. 'I'he actual sealing portion 2 I is shaped by'folding the sheet upon itself in either direction, forming a head. I'he under surface of this head which contacts theQsurface of the sections i is formed with a substantially fiat surface. 'I'he upper surface is commonly formed with a at surface but, may be formed in a semi-circle or other form appropriate for use'in the general architectural design of the structure. The sheet is further shaped to form a web portion 22 and outwardly projecting locking members 22. Ihe width of the head is, of course, somewhat greater than the maximum clearance space to be sealed. 'I'he depth of the web portions 2 2 is sufficient to position the locking members 2l within the serrated area of the recesses I1 formed by the oppositely disposed flanges I6 of the membersl and $1. The locking portions 23 are of suillcient width to fit in the serrations I8 of the recesses with spring tension. The sealing strip is positioned by' inserting the web and locking members in the clearance between the concrete sections 8. During the insertion Vthe locking members 23 are compressed towards the web 22. When the strip enters the recesses I1 the locking membersl: spring outwardly and lock in the serrations. A tension is established through the pressure of the locking members against the serrated recess walls, which tends to hold the sealing head'2l in close-contant withthe exterior surfaces-of the sections' joined. 'Ihe sealing compound herein referred to may be any one of the Amany compolmds commonlyherent light weight and resistance to atmospheric Y corrosion, aluminum is preferred. In actual practice it has been found desirable, especially in the case of very long joints, to erect the female members' in several sections rather than in one continuous piece. In case of joining-concrete sections, this alsolapplies tothe male members.

. This simplifies erection and obviates the danger of dimculty owing to the differential expansion between the metal members and the concrete.

invention finds a wide application espe- .cially inthe construction of concrete 'and metal buildings. The two modifications herein described possess additional individual advantages which 'greatlyenhancetheirvalua For exf spaans 3 foreseen building movement. The modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 not only gives a yieldable weatherproof joint for connecting concrete sections but also provides in a metallic sealing strip a means of rendering the joint inconspicuous by the proper coloring and/or forming of the head of the strip, or a means of breaking, in an effective manner with vertical panel lines, large expenses of concrete wall and performing an iml portant function in the architectural treatment of the structure.

Having described my invention in accurate de tail and shown how it works, what I claim is:

l. An improved expansion joint for yieldably joining sections of a structure, comprising, in two abutting sections, a channel-like female member positioned in oneabutting section and a male member oppositely disposed in the other 'abutting section and projecting into the channel of said female member, at least one of said members being provided with a serrated surface, and a plastic sealing compound filling the space between said members.

member positioned in the concrete section, bars positioned in the concrete piercing the channel at predetermined intervals, a plate male member protruding from the metal section provided with L-shaped slots spaced at intervals corresponding with the bars in said channel, the L portion of the slots being of substantially greater dimensions than said bars, said plate projecting into said channel and surrounding said bars in the i.- Vshaped portion of the slots, and a plastic sealing compound filling the space between the male member and the serrated surface of the female member.

4. An expansion joint of the type described, comprising, in two adjacent concrete sections, a female member imbedded in the surface of one section, said female member having a channel disposed parallel to the expansive movement, the side wall surface of said channel being provided with a plurality of serrations extending the length of the joint, a male member imbedded in the adjacent section and extending within said female member and being separated from the serrated walls of said female channel portion by a plastic material, said members being provided with flanges extending outwardly along the ad jacent surfaces of said concrete sections, said Aflanges having recessed portions provided with serrations, and a metallic sealing strip insertable from the surfaces of the structure adapted to be heldin tight-pressed engagement with the structure surface by a spring-pressed engagement with the serrations in said recesses.

5. In an expansion joint assembly, yieldably joining sections of a' structure wherein a recess is formed in the surfaces of the sections with op positely disposed serrated surfaces parallel to the joint, a sealing strip insertable from the surface of the structure adapted to be held in tightpressed engagement with the structure surface by a spring-pressed engagement with the serratlons in said recesses.

JOHN L. HERWOOD.

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